Lactones of 17-carboxyalkylated estra-1, 3, 5(10)-triene-3, 17-diols and 3-ethers



United States Patent LA'CTONES 0F 17-CARBOXYALKYLATED ESTRA- 1,3,5(1:0)-TRlENE-3,17-DIOLS AND. 3-ETHERS John A. "Cella, Skokie, 111., assignor toG. D. Searle & Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application April 22, 1958 Serial No. 730,061

6 Claims. (Cl. 260-23957) This invention relates to lactones of 17-carboxyalkylated estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,l7-diols and S-ethers, and processes for the manufacture thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to compounds of the formula A 0. IT

wherein R is hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical, and A is an ethylene, vinylene, propylene, or trimethylene radical.

Among the lower alkyl radicals comprehended by R in the foregoing formula are methyl, 'ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl,*isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, tert-pentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, isohexyl, heptyl, and like C H J radicals wherein n is a positive integer amounting to less than nine.

Equivalent to the depicted lactones for purposes of the present invention are the hydroxy acids in equilibrium therewith i A-OO OH and the salts derived upon alkalization of the said lactones and/ or hydroxy acids ACOOZ R and A in the latter two formulas having the meanings assigned above, and Z in the salt formula standing for an alkali metal or the ammonium radical.

The application for Letters Patent securing the invention herein described and claimed in a continuation-inpart of applicants prior copending application, Serial No. 653,747, filed April 19, 1957, and now abandoned.

The subject compounds are useful because of their valuable pharmacological properties. They have, for example, the capacity to decrease the serum concentration 2,875,199 latented Feb. 24,1959

n being O or 1 (as dictated bythe alkenyl substituent in the starting material), this acid in turn being selectively hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst of the order of activity of palladium supported by an insoluble metal carbonate, to produce the alkenyl hydroxy acid a i CH4 (onz),.-on=qncoon Lion which, on suificiently prolonged contact with a proton source, cyclizes to the lactone 11:0 orlf Further reduction, 7 ample, palladiumon charcoal--aflords the corresponding saturated hydroxy acid or lactone, dependingupon the acidity of the medium and the time of contact.

As an exception to the foregoingmanufacturing process, the following procedure alfords the carboxypropylene products hereof: an appropriate 17a-butenylestradiol 3- methyl ether is reduced with sodium borohydride in the presence of aluminum chloride to the borane using a more,activebatalyst-for exass/5,199

the lactone The 3-ethers of this invention are, of course, subject to cleavage with, for instance, pyridine hydrochloride at elevated temperatures to yield the apposite phenolic lactone.

The following examples describe in detail certain of the compounds illustrative of the present invention and methods which have been devised for their manufacture. However, the invention is not to be construed as limited thereby, either in spirit or in scope, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis that many modifications, both of materials and of methods, may be practiced Without departing from the purpose and intent of this disclosure. In the examples hereinafterdetailed, temperatures are given in degrees centigrade (f C.), pressures in pounds per square inch (p. s. i.), and-relative amounts of materials in parts by weight, except as otherwise noted. The symbol N refers to normality, which defines concentration in terms of gram equivalents of solute per liter of solution.

Example 1 17a-carboxyethynylestradiol 3-mefltyl ezlwr.-To a sus pension of approximately 10 parts of magnesium in 180 parts of anhydrous ether is slowly added, with agitation, a solution of 44 parts of ethyl bromide in 180 parts of anhydrous'ether. When the magnesium is in solution, 120 parts of dry 1,2-dimethoxyethane is cautiously introduced, following which distillation of ether is begun. Simultaneously with distillation, a solution of parts of l7oa-ethynylestradiol 3-methyl ether in 250'parts of 1,2-dimethoxyethane is added. Distillation is terminated when the vapor temperatures reach 70 C., agitation at the boiling pointunder reflux being continued for 4 hours longer. The reaction mixture is then charged into an autoclave along with 200 parts of liquid carbon dioxide under 600 p. s. i. pressure at room temperatures. This mixture is agitated overnight, whereupon contents of the autoclave are dumped into 2000 parts of water containing 20 parts of acetic acid. The precipitate which forms is filtered out and pressed. The damp magnesium complex of the desired acetylenic acid thus obtained is recrystallized from 350 parts of dioxane. Recrystallization from 125 parts of 50% aqueous dioxane acidified to pH 4 with muriatic acid serves to cleave the complex and afiord 17 a-carboxyethynylestradiol 3-methyl ether monohydrate, melting at ZOO-204 C. (dec.). Water of crystallization is lost on heating at l20-l40 C. The anhydrous product has the formula Q-ECCOOH Example 2 17m (Z-carboxyvinyl) 3 methoxyestra 1,3,5 (10) trien-17fl-0l lact0ne.-A solution of approximately 4 parts of l7a-carboxyethynylestradiol 3-methyl ether in parts of dioxane containing 9 parts of pyridine is agitated with hydrogen at room temperatures and atmospheric pressures in the presence of approximately 1 part of 5% palladium supported on calcium carbonate. When one equivalent of hydrogen has been absorbed, the reduction is stopped and the reaction mixture thereupon filtered to remove catalyst. The bulk of the solvent is stripped in vacuo, and the oily residue is then treated with 40 parts of aqueous 10% muriatic acid to induce crystallation. The solid product thus obtained is filtered OE and then crystallized from approximately 20 parts of ethyl acetate. The 17a-(Z-carboxyvinyl)-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5- (10)-trien-l7[ '-ol lactone thus obtained melts at approximately l70-l72 C. and has the formula Example 3 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 3 methoxyestra 1,3,5(10)- trien-17/3-0l Iact0ne.-A solution of 3 parts of l7oc-(2- carboxyvinyl)-3-methoxyestra-l,3,5 10) -trien-l7l3-ol lactone in parts of ethyl acetate is hydrogenated at atmospheric pressures and room temperatures in the presence of 1 part of 5% palladium supported on carbon powder. When one equivalent of hydrogen has been ab sorbed, reduction ceases; and the reaction mixture is then filtered to remove the catalyst. The filtrate is evaporated to dryness, following which the residue is crystallized from 5 parts of an equi-volume'mixture of isopropyl ether and ethyl acetate. The l7a-(2-carboxyethyl)3- methoxyestra-l,3,5( l0)-trien-l7fl-ol lactone thus obtained melts at l50l52 C. The product has the formula HsCO- u g Exampleb 17 (2 propynylleszradiol 3 methyl alien- A mixture of 6 parts of ZO-rnesh clean-surfaced zinc, parts of estrone 3-methyl ether, and 10 parts of propargyl bromide in 105 parts f tetrahydrofuran is heated at the boiling point of the solvent underreflux for approximately 2 hours. The liquid phase is then decanted onto 1000 parts of ice-Water "containing 10 parts of glacial acetic acid. The gummy crude which is thrown down is isolated by decantation. and then suspended in 105 parts of boiling methanol. After chilling, the mixture is filtered free of insoluble material and the filtrate stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation. The residue is taken up in 60 parts of absolute ethanol, and to this solution is added 4 parts of trimethylaminoacetohydrazide chloride and 4 parts of glacial acetic acid. The resultant solution is heated at the boiling pointfor 30 minutes, then dumped into 300 parts of water containing 6 parts of sodium vbicarbonate. The solid which precipitates? is 17a-2-propynyDestradiol 3-methy1ether'which, recrystallized from 60 parts of methanol, melts in the range 49-60 C. The

product has the formula eHiGEoH l Example6 w 1 7w(3-carboxy-2-propynyl) eslradiol 3-methyl ether.- A solution of 11 parts of methylmagnesium bromide in 95 parts ofanhydrous ether is diluted with 45 parts of tetrahydrofuran and distilleduntil the vapor temperature reaches 55 C. At this point; approximately 6 parts of l7ot-(2-propynyl)estradiol 3-methyl ether dissolvedin 70 parts of tetrahydrofuranis introduced; and-the reaction mixture is heated at the boiling point under reflux, with agitation, for hours. The mixture is then cooled to room tempreatures and vigorously agitated under a carbon dioxide atmosphere for 24 hours. Finally the mixture is dumped into 1000'parts of ice-water containing 15 parts of concentrated sulfuric acid. The solid precipitate thrown down is recovered by filtation, washed with water, and air-dried at 80 C. Further purification is achieved by washing with 65 parts of boiling carbon tetrachloride. The product thus obtained is 17a-(3-carboxy-Z-propynyl)estradiol 3-methy1 ether, which melts in the range 184-193 C. with decomposition). The product has the formula CHtUECC OOH 1 Example 7 HaCO is complete, the catalyst is removed by filtration; and the filtrate is concentrated to approximately one-fifth volume, then dumped into 200 parts of water containing 6 parts of concentrated muriatic acid. The white solid thrown down is rapidly recovered on a filter, washed thereon with water, dried, and recrystallized from ethyl acetate. The 170; (3 carboxypropyl) 3 methoxyestra 1,3,5- (l0)-trien-l7,B-ol thus obtained melts at 164l68.5 C. (with decomposition).

B. 17a (3 carboxypropyl) 5 methoxyestm 1,3,- 5(10)-trien-J7B-ol lac20ne.-A solution of approximately 31 parts of 17a-(3 carboxypropyl)-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5- (10)-trien-l7,B-ol in 640 parts of absolute ethanol is mixed with 36 parts of water and 54 parts of concentrated muriatic acid. The reactants are let stand for 2 hours at room temperatures, then dumped into 10,000 parts of water. The resultant mixture is extracted with ether; and the ether extract is washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation. The gummy residueis dissolved in 4000 parts of benzene, and this solution is mixed with 1 part of p toluenesulfonicacid monohydrate; The resultant mixture is concentrated toQne-fifth its: original volume by distillation, whereupon the concentrate is washed with water and dried overianhydrous sodium sulfate. The solution thus obtained is stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation, and the residue is recrystallized from ethyl acetate. There is produced bythis means 17a-(3-carboxypropyl 3 methoxyestra 1,3,5( 10) trien 17B ol lactone which, dried invacuo at 100 C., melts at 168-170 C. The product has theformula p 1 Example 8 u u A. 3 methoxy 17m (1 methyl 3 hydroxypropyl) estra 1-,3,5(10) trien 1 713 oL-Estrone 3 methyl ether and crotyl-magn esium bromide are reacted according to the procedure described for the preparation of 17a-allylestradiol 3-methyl ether by Colton et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 79, 1123 (19517). To a solution of 14 parts of the resulting 17a-(1-methylallyl)estradiol 3-methyl ether in 72 parts of fl,fl'-dimethoxydiethyl ether is added a solution of 13 parts of sodium borohydride and 13 parts of aluminum chloridein 540 parts of ,B,;3'-dimethoxydiethyl ether. The reactants are agitated at room temperatures overnight, then heated at 70-85 C. for 3 hours with continued agitation. The resultant suspension is cooled, whereupon an excess of muriatic acid is carefully added. Upon extraction with benzene and removal of solvent from the benzene extract, the borane intermediate hereinbefore referred to is obtained as a gummy residue. This residue is taken up in 320 parts of ethanol, and to the ethanol solution is added 40 parts of aqueous 30% hydrogen peroxide and 120 parts of aqueous 10% caustic soda. When the resultant exothermic reaction subsides, the mixture is heated at C. until the peroxide is destroyed, whereupon this alkaline peroxide treatment is twice repeated and heating at 95l00 C. continued under a nitrogen atmosphere until most of the ethanol is evaporated. The residue, diluted with water and chilled, solidifies. Pressed dry on a filter and Washed with water, the resultant 3- methoxy 17oz (1 methyl 3 hydroxypropyDestral,3,5(10)-trien-l7fl-ol consists of a mixture of isomers I 'cncnrcolon -orr B. 3 methoxy 17a (1 methyl 2 carboxyethyl)- estra 1,3,5(10) --trien 17,9 ol lactone.-To a solution of 380 milligrams of the 3 methoxy 17a (1 methyl- 3 hydroxypropyl) estra 1,3,5(10) trien 175 ol isomer melting at 150.5-153 C. in 20 milliliters of acetone is added, at room temperatures, 0.56 milliliter of 8 N chromic acid in 8 N sulfuric acid. The reactants are diluted with water, and the resultant mixture is extracted with a mixture of benzene and ether. The extract is washed with aqueous potassium bicarbonate, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and stripped of solvent by distillation in vacuo. Crystallization of the residue from butanone affords stereochemically pure 3-methoxy-17a- (1 methyl 2 carboxyethyl) estra 1,3,5(l) trien- 17fi-ol lactone, the melting point of which is 168-l70 C.

Oxidation of 842 milligrams of the mixed 3-methoxy- 17a (l methyl 3 hydr0xypropy1)estra 1,3,5(10)- trien-175ml isomers of the preceding part A of this example by precisely the same technique just set forth affords a mixture of 3-methoxy-17a-(l-methyl-Z-carboxyethyl)-estra-l,3,5(10)-trien-17fi-ol lactone isomers, melting in the range of 149-161 C. This mixture is resolved by chromatographic adsorption on silica gel, using benzene and ethyl acetate as developing solvents. There is obtained by this means sterochemically pure 3-methoxy 170a (l methyl 2 carboxyethyl) estra- 1,3,5(10)-trien-17(3-0l lactone melting at 184-187 C.

The products have the formula Substitution of 17a (2 methylallyl estradiol 3 methyl ether for the l-methylallyl isomer used as a starting material in this example affords, in accordance with the technique herein detailed, 3 methoxy 17oz (2 methyl 2 carboxyethyl) estra 1,3,5(l0) trien ol lactone, having the formula CHr-TO k What is claimed is: l. A compound of the formula CHa' wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl radicals, and A is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, vinylene, propylene, and trimethylene radicals.

2. 17a (2 carboxyvinyl) 3 methoxyestra 1,31,5(10) trien 17B ol lactone.

3. 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 3 methoxyestra 1,3,5(10) trien 17/8 01 lactone.

4. 17a (2 carboxyethyl)estra 1,3,5(10') triene 3,175 diol lactone.

5. 17a (3 carboxypropyl) 3 methoxyestra 1,3,5(10) trien 175 o1 lactone.

6. 3 methoxy 17a (1 methyl 2 carboxyethyl) estra 1,3,5(10) trien 17/3 ol lactone.

No references cited. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA 